The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-10-29

much trouble for you to bring home a small bundle for me-"
 "Can lift it?"
 It's small, square bandbox, with silk dress in it."
 "Trouble! You, dear mother! Can anything I can do for you be to me ever trouble? When it is you can set me down for a brute, or crazy man. But where am I to find it?"
 "At Mrs. Stickney's. She will have it all ready for you"
 "A silk dress When will you wear it, mother?"
 "Perhaps tomorrow"
 "Eh! Whats to come off then? Is it company, or are you going away?"
 "Jack, I expect Ella Mason will be with us on the morrow"
 The young man brought deep, quick breath and a heavy sigh, all of which was clearly seen by a pair of bright eyes that looked out from the cottage, through the intricacies of the lattieed vines.
 "Well, well," said honest Jack, after a pause, ssshe'll make the old house seem like heaven; and 1 suppose Iiarry'll spruce up bit and put on a little good nature. She can be noth- ing to me, but may God and all the good angels bless her, nevertheless. Give me kiss, mother. You don't know how we'll you look"
 "Who could help looking well, with such son, dear Jack"
 "Bah If am in any way worthy don't forget tha+ it's to the very best mother in the world owe it. There Bye byew
 And he was gone.
 And the mother went back into her pleasant sitting groom, there to join a fair faced, golden haired, blue-eyed damsel, who had been an unseen spec tator and witness of the scenes WIG have depicted.
 She had come from the railway sta tion about an hour before, brought by private conveyance, with a veil over her face, and Mrs. Stevens alone of all the people about, knew of her arrival.
 Both John and Henry were expect ing her to come to them on visit ere long, but no time had been set.
 Ah ! little did either of them dream that her eyes had beheld and ears heard them both on that day.
 Ella Mason was the present visitor
 She was twenty years of age, a healthful, happy, laughter loving girl, honest and true, and beautiful enough to turn the heads and warm the hearts of a majority of the young men who became acquainted with her.
 She was an orphan, her mother hay ing died during her early childhood. Her father remained with her-or, at least. alive to care for her-until she had reached her eighteenth year:
 MT. Mason's business had called him abroad a great deal, and as he could not make a home for his child, he had given her into the care of Mrs. Ste vens, whom he had known for many years, and in whom he had entire con tidence.
 And we may remark here, when the will of Mir. Mason was opened after his death it was found that he had left his daughter Ella heiress to fifty thousand pounds.
 From the age of ten to the age of eighteen Ella Mason had been reared in the Widow Stevens family, in close companionship with her sons, John and Henry.
 And who can wonder that both the boys came to love her?
 The love of the younger and hand somer son, Henry, was bold and out spoken. -s.s' - -- -----.
 He seemed to fancy himself the law ful possessor and perhaps he deemed himself invincible.
 He had never directly asked her to be his wife, though he had very plainly intimated to her that he should do so when the proper time was come.
 The love of John was more like worship, distant and silent.
 He carried the dear image in his heart, praying always that her life might be blessed and happy; but he had dared not hope that he could ever help to make it so.
 And how was it with Ella herself?
 Certainly during the early years Harry had been her favorite, and she may have appeared to prefer him later.
 One thing in these later days, how ever, may have deceived people, and, very likely, deceived Henry himself.
 It was his overweening sense of proprietorship that gave the appear ance.
 He as boldly and selfishly appropri- ated the fair lady as he would have appropriated any piece of property that he regarded as his own; and yet he did it in such way that she could not open his eyes to his folly without